NEWEST EDITIONS ON IMMORTAL PERFORMANCES' LABEL!

FROM TOSCANINI'S PERSONAL COLLECTION

ARTURO TOSCANINI

VERDI REQUIEM

Milanov, Kullman, Castagna, Moscona, Westminster Choir

Benefit Concert - Carnegie Hall

Bonus:

All-Verdi NBC Concert, 31 January 1943

Peerce, Della Chiesa, Moscona / chorus

Two Complete Concerts

One of Toscanini's most memorable achievements with this great work, never broadcast in the U.S., in good sound. Perhaps Milanov's greatest singing of this music. This virtually unknown performance with the NBC Symphony, from Toscanini's personal collection, was passed down from Toscanini to Richard Gardner, his sound engineer, who in turn gave it to our archivist and sound engineer, Richard Caniell. A stupendous performance! Bonus: All Verdi NBC Concert, 31 January 1943 with Peerce, Della Chiesa, Moscona and chorus. The concert includes music from Forza del Destino, Nabucco, Traviata, Otello and the first U.S. performances of Hymn of the Nations in an electrifying performance. Much of this program has not been previously released.

MELCHIOR MEMORIAL

A much laboured upon restoration and re-creation of Melchior’s final performance as Siegfried which occurred on 20 December 1948 at the Metropolitan Opera. Superb sound overall. This 4 CD set comes with a 56 page booklet, with articles about the performance and the composer, as well as a full track-related synopsis, biographies and rare photographs. An unforgettable memento of the final days of the Wagner Golden Age at the Met.

RARE RECORDINGS FROM THE NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC SERIES

ARTURO TOSCANINI

MISSA SOLEMNIS

Martinelli, Rethberg, Telva, Pinza

Chorus of the Schola Cantorum

Bonus:

1935 Met Simon Boccanegra

Act I, Scene 1 complete

Rethberg, Martinelli, Pinza, Tibbett

This important performance, previously published in exceedingly poor, off-pitch sound, is here offered in a sonically restored edition. The booklet text is by John Steane, the article about the composer and the Missa is by Richard Caniell, as are the extensive Recording Notes. The bonus offers the complete Act I, Scene 1 of Simon Boccanegra, Met 1935, a conjunction suggested by Mr. Steane as an interesting contrast in hearing two performances by Martinelli, Rethberg and Pinza in the same year. The album also offers two short interviews with Rethberg and Martinelli about their experience with Toscanini, together with photos of the singers in both broadcasts making this an album to treasure.

A TRULY REPRESENTATIVE PERFORMANCE FROM THE LATTER DAYS OF THE GOLDEN AGE AT THE MET

LA GIOCONDA

Chorus & Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera

30 December 1939

Milanov, Martinelli, Castagna, Morelli, Moscona, Kaskas

Ettore Panizza, conductor

Bonus:

Never Previously Published:

Interview with Zinka Milanov, 1959

Also: Martinelli speaks of Martinelli

and

Ponchielli’s I Lituani: Finale to Act III

The 1939 Met broadcast offered some of the most memorable singing by Milanov ever recorded. This, with the plenitude of Martinelli’s Enzo recreates the opera with stirring dramatic eloquence. Offers the best sound, with commentary by Milton Cross. 3 CD set with a 40 page booklet, an article about the performance (by John Steane) and the composer (by Richard Caniell), as well as a full track-related synopsis, biographies and rare photographs. A great memento of a much revered era.

OPERATIC ARIAS AND DUETS

One of the great voices of the latter half of the past century. Jurinac is heard in previously unknown recordings of lieder, recorded between 1945 and 1951. The second CD is composed of arias and duets from famous operas. Includes an article about Sena Jurinac by Tully Potter, “The Early Prime of Sena Jurinac: A Personal View”. First in a new series.

CLICK HERE for German texts and translations of most of the Unknown Leider (Sena Jurinac) on CD 1.